* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. OKAY, GOOD MORNING. [00:00:01] GOOD MORNING, GOOD MORNING. WE ARE GATHERED HERE ON TODAY, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18TH, 2025 HERE IN THE GREAT CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS. YOU ARE ACTUALLY SITUATED ON THE FIFTH FLOOR OF CITY HALL, WHICH IS LOCATED ON 4 44 FOURTH STREET. AND WE ARE IN OR ABOUT TO BEGIN A SPECIAL MEETING. IT IS NOW 10:36 AM AND IN THIS MEETING, IF YOU HAVE A DESIRE TO, YOU MAY ATTEND AND PARTICIPATE THE MEETING VIA A VIDEO CONFERENCE OR TELEPHONIC MEDIUMS. HOWEVER YOU MUST FIRST DIAL 8 7 7 8 5 3 5 2 4 7 OR 8 8 8 7 8 8 0 0 9 9. YOU WOULD ENTER THE MEETING ID OF 8 7 5 0 5 9 7, EXCUSE ME, 8 8 5 2 AND THE PASSCODE OF 3 9 9 600 AND YOU WILL BE ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE, ATTEND, AND PARTICIPATE IN THE MEETING. ALSO IN THIS MEETING WE ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT AND IF THERE WOULD BE A NEED FOR SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS, THE ONLY THING YOU MUST DO IS CALL 24 HOURS IN ADVANCE AND YOU WOULD CALL THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE AT 4 0 9 9 8 3 8 1 1 5. MAKE YOUR REQUEST KNOWN TO HER STAFF AND THEY WILL DO ALL WITHIN THEIR POWERS TO ACCOMMODATE YOU WITH YOUR SPECIAL REQUEST. WE ARE NOW GOING TO OPEN THE MEETING IN OUR NORMAL FASHION WITH THE INVOCATION OF PLEDGE AND THE ACTUAL ROLL CALL ON TODAY. WE'RE GOING TO DO IT IN A VERY SPECIAL WAY AND WE'RE GOING TO CALL FOR THE INVOCATION, UH, NONE OTHER THAN MY LINE, BROTHER. UH, THE FIRST GENTLEMAN FOR THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR IN ABOUT 10 MINUTES, THE PERSON IN REVEREND ALBERT MOSES. AND HE IS GOING TO INVOKE THE PRESENCE OF GOD UPON THIS ASSEMBLIES ON THIS MORNING. AMEN. AMEN. IF YOU WOULD BOW YOUR HEADS WITH ME IN WORD OF PRAYER OF GOD IN HEAVEN, IT IS IN THE NAME OF JESUS THAT WE DO COME BEFORE YOU. WE GIVE YOU PRAISE, GLORY, AND HONOR AND THANKSGIVING FOR THIS IS THE DAY THAT YOU HAVE MADE. AND WE DO REJOICE AND WE ARE GLAD IN IT. THE FATHER, WE BLESS YOUR NAME FOR ALLOWING US TO GATHER TOGETHER THE FATHER TO REMEMBER HOW YOUR SERVANT MAYOR BOYE HAS SERVED YOU NOW THE FATHER. AND WE THANK YOU FOR THIS PRIVILEGE TO BE ABLE TO GATHER TOGETHER FOR YOUR DAUGHTER WHO WILL NOW BECOME MAYOR OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR. AND FATHER GOD, WE PRAY YOUR BLESSINGS UPON ALL OF US HERE ASSEMBLED AND FATHER FOR YOUR DAUGHTER, OUR MAYOR, MY WIFE, FATHER, BRING THE HIGHWAY DOWN. MAKE THE QUICKER WAY STRAIGHT. MAKE THE ROUGH PLACES PLAIN. BLESS HER TO BE ABLE TO SAY LIKE JEREMIAH, TRULY THERE IS NOTHING, NOTHING TOO HARD FOR GOD. AND IT SEEMS LIKE IT. IT'S JUST A LITTLE BIT TOO HARD. BLESS HER TO UNDERSTAND YOUR WORD IS STILL YOUR TRUTH FOR HER AND FOR US ALL. AND THE FATHER THAT YOU'LL CAUSE ALL THINGS TO WORK TOGETHER FOR THE GOOD OF THEM THAT LOVE YOU. YES, LOVES YOU THIS CITY BY THE SEA. WE LOVE YOU FATHER, YOUR DAUGHTER, AND ALL OF US. KEEP US COVERED BY THE BLOOD OF YOUR SON, CHRIST JESUS. KEEP OUR LIVES ANOINTED. CONTINUE TO BLESS US IN EVERY BOUNTIFUL AND BENEFICIAL WAY AND WE'LL ALL BE MINDFUL AND CAREFUL. WE'LL REMEMBER TO GIVE YOU NAME, THE PRAISE, THE GLORY AND THE HONOR FOREVER IN THE MIGHTY NAME OF JESUS. WE PRAY AND ALL OF GOD'S CHILDREN SAID TOGETHER. AMEN. AMEN. AMEN. THANK YOU REVEREND YOU PLEASE JOIN US NOW IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND TTES FOR ALL. THANK YOU SO KINDLY FOR YOUR INDULGENCE IN OUR OPENING CITY SECRETARY, WOULD YOU BE SO KIND AS TO ESTABLISH A QUORUM FOR ME? MAYOR BARTY, PRESENT, MAYOR PROTI ETT. PRESENT, COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS. COUNCIL MEMBER HAMILTON, EVER FIELD PRESENT. [00:05:02] COUNCIL MEMBER BECKHAM HERE, COUNCIL MEMBER KEN LAW PRESENT COUNCIL MEMBER FRANK, PRESENT. YOU HAVE A QUORUM MAYOR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO KINDLY. AND BEFORE WE WOULD BEGIN IN THE NORMAL FLOW OF THE ITEM THAT WE HAVE ON OUR APP PRINTED, UH, AGENDA, I WOULD LIKE LIKE [III. SWEARING IN OF THE MAYOR ELECT] TO SPEAK WITH EACH OF YOU WHO GATHERED HERE TODAY FOR THIS AUSPICIOUS OCCASION OF SWEARING IN OUR NEWLY ELECTED MAYOR. NONE OTHER THAN AT THIS MOMENT, MAYOR ELECT CHARLOTTE MOSES, TO EACH OF YOU WHO WOULD BE GATHERED HERE ON THIS MORNING, GOD HAS BLESSED YOU TO WITNESS THIS OCCASION. SO I BELIEVE THAT THAT'S REASON ENOUGH TO GIVE THANKS. AMEN. ALRIGHT. AND PERSONALLY, I GIVE THANKS TO SOME OF YOU WHO ARE IN HERE BECAUSE EVERYBODY IS NOT FROM PORT ARTHUR, BUT TO THOSE WHO ARE PORT ARTHURS, I GIVE THANKS, FIRST OF ALL TO GOD ALMIGHTY. AND THEN I GIVE THANKS TO YOU FOR ALLOWING ME FOR THE PAST SIX YEARS, SINCE 2019, MORE SUCCINCTLY, I BELIEVE IT WAS JULY 2ND, 2019, BEING SWORN IN AS YOUR MAYOR. AND ON TODAY, JUNE 18TH, 2025, I ACTUALLY DESCEND THIS THRONE AND ALLOW THE ASCENSION OF ANOTHER DULY ELECTED INDIVIDUAL TO SERVE YOU. NOW THAT'S HOW GOOD GOD IS. AMEN. AMEN. THERE'S NO BICKERING, NO DISSENSION, NO MISUNDERSTANDING, NO JEALOUSY, NO HATE, NO DISLIKE. THERE IS UNITY. AMEN. FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DO NOT KNOW AND YOU ARE NOT AWARE, ON LAST WEEK, THE NEWLY ELECTED MAYOR AND I ACTUALLY HAD AN ONBOARDING MEETING, A BRIEFING MEETING WHERE SHE COULD BE APPRISED OF WHAT WE ARE DOING HERE IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR. SO I DON'T WANT ANYONE TO THINK THAT WE DON'T KNOW HOW TO DO THINGS IN PORT ARTHUR. I DON'T WANT ANYONE TO LEAVE THIS ROOM THINKING THAT WE ARE SO DISCOMBOBULATED IN THE PERFORMANCE OF OUR ACTUAL POLITICAL DUTIES, THAT WE CAN'T SIT AND HAVE A CONVERSATION THAT WOULD CONTINUE THIS CITY IN ITS FORWARD THRUST. NOW, HAVING BEEN AFFORDED THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE YOU TO THE PAST SIX YEARS, THERE HAVE BEEN MANY SUCCESSES, BUT JUST AS THERE HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL MOMENTS, THERE HAVE BEEN MOMENTS OF MAYBE FAILURE OR DISCORD. HOWEVER, THE UNITY OF THIS GROUP HAS TO REMAIN INTACT IF WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE THE FORWARD THRUST. SO I WOULD IMPLORE YOU THAT YOU WOULD PRAY FOR OUR INCOMING MAYOR, THAT YOU WOULD PRAY FOR THIS AUGUST BODY OF INDIVIDUALS WHOM ADORN THESE SEATS THAT YOU ARE NOW FACING, THAT THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO WORK IN UNITY, WORK ON ONE ACCORD TO ACHIEVE WHAT GOD WANTS TO BE ACHIEVED FOR THE GREAT CITY OF PORT ARTHUR. NOW, GOING FORWARD, [00:10:01] EACH OF YOU WOULD NEED TO BE INVOLVED GOING FORWARD. EACH OF YOU WOULD NEED TO BE AMBASSADORS TO ASSIST MAYOR MOSES AND THIS COUNCIL. EACH OF YOU WOULD NEED TO BE SO INVOLVED THAT WE WOULD BEGIN TO VOTE IN THE 50 OR 60 PERCENTILE AND NOT IN THE SEVEN AND EIGHT PERCENTILE. YOU ARE HERE, WHICH IS INDICATIVE OF YOUR POLITICAL INVOLVEMENT, BUT EVERYBODY HERE HAS A FRIEND. YOU HAVE A LOVED ONE, YOU HAVE A FAMILY MEMBER. EVEN HAVE TWO OR THREE HATERS THAT YOU CAN ASK TO VOTE IN THE VERY NEXT ELECTION. IF IT'S FOR DOG CATCHER, JUST GO AND VOTE. THAT IS WHAT OUR FUTURE DEPENDS UPON. SO AS I LEAVE THIS SEAT THAT GOD HAS BLESSED ME TO OCCUPY FOR THE PAST SIX YEARS, I WANT TO IMPRESS UPON YOU THE NEED FOR YOU TO VOTE. AND WHEN YOU LEAVE TODAY AND THEY SAY WHAT THAT OLD BOY SAID, HE JUST SAID, GO AND VOTE EVERY SATURDAY. JUST GO BY WHEREVER THEY VOTING. SEE IF THEY ARE VOTING ONE OF THOSE SATURDAYS, THEY MIGHT BE VOTING. OKAY? I SAY IT IN A HUMOROUS WAY BECAUSE I LIKE TO MAKE THE ROOM LIGHT, BUT IT'S EMPHATIC AND IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU DO THAT BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T, THE PRESUMED POWER THAT YOU THINK YOU HAVE ON THIS DAY, YOU WON'T HAVE IF YOU DON'T VOTE. AMEN. OKAY. I PRAISE GOD FOR YOU. I THANK GOD FOR YOU AND I LOVE YOU AND AIN'T NOTHING YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT. OKAY? GOD BLESS YOU. THANK YOU SO KINDLY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I KNOW ONE PERSON LIKES ME, THE CITY ATTORNEY. Y'ALL DIDN'T HAVE TO STAND UP. , THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. MAYOR THURMAN. BILL BARTY. YES MA'AM. YEAH. OH, NOW YOU KNOW WHAT OUR FRAT BROTHERS TELLING ME, YOU GOTTA GIVE EVERYBODY ELSE THE OPPORTUNITY. I AIN'T THINK Y'ALL WANNA SAY NOTHING, . OH NO. YOU KNOW WHAT, LINDSAY, BE BREAKING THIS THING, MAN. AND SEE, OKAY? OKAY, NOW, NOW YOU UNDERSTAND. YOU GONNA ALWAYS BREAK IT, Y'ALL, LINDSAY, OKAY? DON'T PUT ON NOBODY ELSE, OKAY? AND I JUST PICKED HIM. I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF HE WORKING , OKAY? UH, COUNCILWOMAN EVER. THANK YOU MAYOR. THANK YOU FOR YOUR JOKES. I'VE ENDEARED LEE CALLED YOU PAPA AND WOULD SAY, PAPA, YOU NOT GONNA SPEAK UP AND SAY ANYTHING. AND SOMETIMES I WOULD SAY, PAPAPA, YOU NEED TO BE QUIET, . SO I APPRECIATE THE RELATIONSHIP THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO BUILD OVER THESE LAST TWO YEARS WITH YOU NOW, AND I APPRECIATE YOUR HEART AND YOUR ZEAL FOR THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR. THANK YOU. NO ONE CAN SAY YOU DON'T LOVE PA I DON'T CARE WHERE WE ARE IN THIS COUNTRY. SOMEONE WILL ALWAYS KNOW, OH YEAH, THAT'S THE MAYOR FROM PORT ARTHUR . AND THEY RECOGNIZE YOU, THEY REMEMBER YOU, THEY CALL ON YOU. AND I THANK YOU FOR, UM, EVEN THE TIMES THAT YOU DIDN'T FEEL LIKE YOU HAD ALL THE SUPPORT, YOU STILL WENT TO FIGHT FOR US. SO THANK YOU. OKAY, UH, COUNCILMAN KINLAW THURMAN, BILL BOYT , UM, I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA HAVE TO AGREE WITH, UH, WITH TIFFANY, UM, UH, UH, TO KIND OF GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT HAPPENED, UH, A SITUATION WITH BILL AND I AND, AND, UH, COUNCILMAN [00:15:01] FRANK. WE WERE IN DC UH, WITH SOME SENATORS AND, UH, THE QUESTION WAS ASKED TO YOU, ANYONE WANT TO, UH, TALK ABOUT THEIR PARTICULAR STATE AND CITY? BILL BARTY RAISED HIS HAND AND SPOKE SO WELL ABOUT PORT ARTHUR AND THE THINGS THAT WE WERE GONNA BE DOING IN THE NEXT YEAR OR TWO. HE PUT PORT ARTHUR ON THE MAP. THAT'S ONE THING I GOTTA SAY ABOUT BILL, WHEN HE HAS SOMETHING ON HIS MIND IS, WHAT IS IT? DOGMATIC. THAT'S THE WORD I LEARNED THAT WORD LAST YEAR. DOGMATIC MEANING HE WON'T LET IT GO. AND IF YOU KNOW BILL BARIT, HE WON'T LET IT GO. AND HE GONNA SAY WHAT'S ON HIS MIND. SO I RESPECT HIM. WE'VE HAD SOME DISAGREEMENTS, BUT WE'VE HAD A WHOLE LOT OF AGREEMENTS. BILL, I WANNA PERSONALLY THANK YOU, MAN, I, I'VE BEEN HERE THE HOLD SIX YEARS WITH BILL AND I'VE SEEN BILL GROW AND BECOME THE MAYOR HE IS TODAY. AND WITH ALL THAT, YOU KNOW, I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU AND GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN MORE ABOUT YOU AS WELL AS YOU LEARNING MORE ABOUT ME. THANK YOU FOR THE, THE HARD WORK YOU'VE DONE FOR THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR AND YOU MADE PORT ARTHUR PROUD. THANK YOU MA'AM. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, COUNCILMAN FRANK, THANK YOU. I WANT TO SPEAK, UM, FROM A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT VANTAGE POINTS. FIRST, I WANNA SPEAK FROM THE PARTICULAR STANDPOINT OF A COLLEAGUE. OF COURSE, MAN, I APPRECIATE YOU. I CAN HONESTLY SAY, UH, THAT YOU HAVE DONE A, A GREAT JOB. UH, YOU HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB FROM THE PARTICULAR STANDPOINT OF BEING ACCEPTED, APPRECIATED, AND EVEN ADORED NATIONALLY. UH, YOU HAVE A NATIONAL FOOTPRINT, UH, AND YOU ARE EXPECT YOU ARE ACCEPTED AND APPRECIATED BY MAYORS ALL ACROSS, UH, THE LENGTH AND BREADTH OF THIS COUNTRY. THEY KNOW PORT ARTHUR AND THEY KNOW OUR MAYOR. AND SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT. UM, YOU HOLD NATIONAL POSITIONS, UH, IN THE NATION AND, UH, UH, YOUR IMPRINT AND IMPACT IS FELT FROM A FAMILY STANDPOINT. I WANT TO SIMPLY SAY INDIVIDUALS HAD SOME CONCERN ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE ARE RELATED, UH, BIOLOGICALLY WE ARE IN THE SAME FAMILY. UH, BUT THE COUNCIL SOON LEARNED, UH, THAT WHEN YOU AND I ARE ARGUING IN CLOSED SESSION, DON'T GET INVOLVED , UH, BECAUSE WE'LL STOP FIGHTING EACH OTHER AND FIGHT THEM . SO, SO, UH, SO THOSE THINGS HAPPEN. YOU HAVE LEFT MEETINGS SO WARM AT ME. UH, UH, AND, BUT WE HAVE REMAINED FAMILY AND MORE, EVEN MORE THAN FAMILY. YOU ARE MY BROTHER AND I LOVE YOU, COUNCILMAN D LIKE ALWAYS. MY LIGHT WAS ON FIRST AND YOU DIDN'T CALL ME AND ORDER . YOU GONNA TALK TO THE LOGS? YEAH. OKAY. NOW HE SAID, HE SAID, I'M GONNA TALK TO LOGGINGS. WELL, ONE THING ABOUT IT, WE WANTED HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE PREACHER NO MORE. SO MEETING WOULD BE SHORTER. YOU KNOW, YOU GOT TWO, YOU GOT TWO, YOU'RE STILL GONNA HAVE TWO. YOU CAN'T GET RID OF US. WELL, WELL, WELL ONLY ON SUNDAY. WELL, WELL SEE. THAT'S SOMETHING I KNOW I SERVED WITH CHARLOTTE, SO I KNOW CHARLOTTE IS NOT GONNA PREACH FROM HERE. SHE GONNA BE A BUSINESS. BUT, UH, YOU KNOW, IN ORDER TO WORK WITH PEOPLE, YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, AND THAT'S THE THING THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND ABOUT WORKING AND GETTING ALONG WITH PEOPLE. YOU GOTTA REALLY KNOW THE PERSON. AND IF YOU DON'T KNOW THE MAYOR, MOND BARTY, YOU WON'T GET ALONG WITH HIM, OKAY? YOU WON'T UNDERSTAND HIM. BUT, YOU KNOW, I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING HIM BEFORE WITH HIM WHEN HE CAME ON COUNSEL. AND ALSO THIS TIME WHEN HE'S LEAVING COUNCIL, YOU REALLY HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THE PERSON. YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU HEAR PEOPLE SAY, EVERYBODY KNOW THE MAYOR, WELL, YOU HAVE TO KNOW THURMOND. ONCE YOU MEET THURMAN, YOU AIN'T GONNA FORGET HIM. SO THAT'S WHY EVERYBODY KNOW THE MAYOR. YOU KNOW, THE MAYOR WALK IN A ROOM AND YOU LOOK AT IT, WHO'S THAT GUY DRESSED OVER THERE? THAT'S THE MAYOR. SO HE, HE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PERSON WHO LIKES ATTENTION. HE, HE DRAWS ATTENTION. HE SPEAKS AND, AND, AND, AND HE'S, HE, HE'S NOT A PERSON THAT HOLD GRUDGES. I'VE SEEN HIM, HE WILL GET IN A HEATED ARGUMENT WITH YOU AND TWO MINUTES LATER HE'S MOVING ON. HE'S [00:20:01] MOVING ON. HE NEVER HOLDS GRUDGE, YOU KNOW, HE'S HIMSELF. SO IN ORDER TO WORK WITH PEOPLE, YOU HAVE TO REALLY UNDERSTAND PEOPLE. AND I UNDERSTAND HIM, YOU KNOW, IF I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND HIM, I DON'T KNOW WHAT WOULD'VE HAPPENED. WE PROBABLY BEEN FIGHTING UP HERE, BUT, UH, I, I REALLY HAVE RESPECT FOR THE PERSON HE IS, BECAUSE HE'S BEEN HIMSELF. HE'S NOT GONNA HAVE A CHANCE. YOU KNOW, PEOPLE HAVE TRIED, TALKED, AIN'T GOING TO HAPPEN, YOU KNOW? SO WHAT YOU GET FROM UH, THURMAN IS WHAT YOU SEE. AND LIKE I SAID, I'VE ALWAYS RESPECT PEOPLE WHO CAN DISAGREE, BUT MOVE ON. AND I THINK THAT'S THE BEST QUALITY THAT I'VE SEEN IN HIM, IS THE FACT THAT WHEN WE FIGHTING AND WE ARGUE, BUT WHEN WE DONE, WE'RE DONE, LET'S MOVE ON. THAT'S IS THE QUALITY THAT ALLOWS PEOPLE TO WORK WITH YOU. SO, UH, THOSE ARE THINGS THAT I LIKE ABOUT HIM AND THE QUALITIES THAT EVERYBODY LIKE ABOUT HIM IS, UH, HE'S FUNNY AND HE'S INTERJECT A LOT OF HUMOR AND THAT'S WHO HE IS. SO I ENJOYED THAT SIDE OF WORKING WITH THURMAN , AND I KNOW WHATEVER HE DO AFTER THIS, IT'S GONNA BE THE SAME WAY HE DONE THIS. 'CAUSE HE AIN'T GONNA CHANGE. BEST WISHES FOR YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILWOMAN BECKER. THANK YOU, MAYOR. WELL, MR. DOUCETTE STOLE SOME OF MY THUNDER BECAUSE I WAS GONNA SAY SOME OF THE VERY SAME THINGS THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU AND I HAVEN'T SEEN EYE TO EYE ON SOME THINGS. AND THAT'S OKAY BECAUSE WE'RE ALL DIFFERENT UP HERE. WE ALL HAVE VERY STRONG PERSONALITIES AND, AND WE'RE PASSIONATE ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING FOR THE CITY. BUT YOU ALWAYS DO MOVE RIGHT ON. IT DOESN'T MATTER. WE CAN BE YELLING AT EACH OTHER IN AN EXECUTIVE SESSION AND 10 MINUTES LATER WE'RE FINE. AND I APPRECIATE THAT QUALITY ABOUT YOU. I REALLY DO. I'M GONNA MISS YOUR BOW TIES, , I'M, I'M GONNA MISS YOUR CRAZY SOCKS, , THAT WAS THE FIRST THING I LOOKED AT. WE SIT DOWN IN EXECUTIVE SESSION, I'M LOOKING AT HIS SOCKS AND I'VE ENJOYED THESE LAST TWO YEARS WORKING WITH YOU IN A DIFFERENT CAPACITY THAN I HAD BEFORE. I WAS A LAWYER APPEARING IN YOUR COURT WHEN YOU WERE AT JP. THAT WAS A TOTALLY DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE FROM THIS. AND I'VE, I'VE APPRECIATED WORKING WITH YOU AND I ENJOYED IT. SO GOD BLESS YOU AND GOOD LUCK TO YOU IN THE FUTURE. THANK YOU. UH, CITY MAYOR, MAYOR, THE BEAUTIFUL THING ABOUT A DEMOCRACY AND ABOUT AMERICA IS THEY'RE REAL GUARDS. AND, UM, THE REAL GUARDS SET THE PARAMETERS FOR THE POSITIONS THAT WE HOLD, ESPECIALLY IN MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT IN TEXAS. AND AS YOUR CITY MANAGER FOR THE CITY OF POFA FOR THE LAST SIX YEARS, I'VE BEEN ABLE TO HOLD ONTO THOSE RAIL GUARDS AND TO POINT IT OUT VERY FAIRLY AND SQUARELY TO YOU IN YOUR OFFICE WHEN WE DISAGREED AND WHEN WE AGREED. AND WE HAVE ALWAYS LEFT ON A VERY CORDIAL NOTE, VERY, VERY CORDIAL NOTE. AND I MUST SAY MANY A TIMES YOU HAVE LISTENED TO MY ADVICE, PROFESSIONAL AND OTHERWISE. AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT BECAUSE THAT HAVE CATAPULT THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR ALPHA INTO A DIFFERENT STAGE AND HAVE PLACED US WHERE WE ARE WITH MANY DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE. YOU HAVE NEVER QUESTIONED MY INTEGRITY OR COMMITMENT TO THE CITY, AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT. YES, I WANT TO THANK THE ENTIRE COUNCIL FOR THAT AS WELL BECAUSE ALL THAT I'VE PROVIDED IS PURE TRANSPARENCY TO MAKE SURE THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY WE ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF THE CITIZENS OF PORT ARTHUR. AND I HOPE THAT WE CAN CONTINUE IN THAT VEIN. I KNOW THAT WE WILL CONTINUE IN THAT VEIN AS LONG AS WE HAVE THE TRUST AND COMMITMENT OF THE ENTIRE COUNCIL AND OF OUR LEADERSHIP. AND SO I WANT TO THANK YOU IMMENSELY FOR WORKING WITH ME FROM DAY ONE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PUT FIRST AND FOREMOST THE BENEFITS AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PEOPLE OF PORT ARTHUR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU CITY ATTORNEY. [00:25:01] THANK YOU FOR SHARING GOD AND HIS HOLY SPIRIT WITH ME. GOD SPEED. NO PHONE. AND IT HAD TO BE RIGHT BECAUSE THE PHONE ANSWERED FOR ME. THAT WAS, YEAH, THAT WAS THE PHONE. YEAH, THAT WAS THE FALL. THANK YOU. AND AS I TRIED JUST TO MOVE ON, JUST THANK YOU. I DIDN'T WANT THIS TO BE NO CRIME SESSION OR SO, YOU KNOW, I, THAT'S WHY I I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THEY WAS GONNA SAY. . Y'ALL FOOL ME. . YEAH. UH, TO EACH OF YOU. ALL OF YOU ARE IMPART WHO IN THIS ROOM? OKAY? AND I WANT YOU MA'AM, SECRETARY. OH, I'M SORRY, BUT YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T HAVE NO LIGHT . NO. SEE I TELL LINDSAY AND THAT OFFICE HE WORK IN, COME ON CITY SECRETARY. I'M SORRY MAYOR. IT'S BEEN A PRIVILEGE AND HONOR FOR ME AND MY STAFF TO WORK WITH YOU FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS. YOU ALWAYS SPEAK TO US IN THE MORNINGS AND ALWAYS WISH US A GOOD DAY IN THE EVENINGS, ANYTIME YOU COME IN OR LEAVE. AND YOU ALWAYS MAKE US FEEL LIKE WE'RE SEEN IN OUR OFFICE WHEN SOMETIMES IT'S SO BUSY WE DON'T, WE FEEL INVISIBLE. AND I APPRECIATE YOU SEEING US EVERY DAY AND I APPRECIATE THE EXAMPLES OF GOOD HUMOR AND HOW TO GET ALONG AND HOW TO MOVE FORWARD AS WELL AS THE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS SAID, YOU'VE TAUGHT US MANY THINGS AND WE'LL NEVER FORGET IT. GOD BLESS YOU. AND JUST LIKE I WAS SAYING, IS IT YOU GO BACK TO CRYING. SEE? YOU GO BACK TO CRYING, HUH? PEOPLE COULDN'T SEE THEM TEARS. NOBODY COULD SEE THAT. BUT YOU MAN, . I COULD'VE SAID THERE WAS MEDICINE OR SOMETHING I WAS SAYING, BUT ALL OF YOU ARE IMPARTING HERE. AND I KNOW YOU CAME TODAY FOR CHARLOTTE. CHARLOTTE, YOU GOT A WOMB FULL. THAT'S A BLESSING FROM GOD THOUGHT IT IS. IT'S ALSO A WEIGHT AND IT'S A WEIGHT THAT'S GOING TO BE ON YOU. AND AGAIN, THAT'S WHY YOU ALL HAVE TO PRAY HER THROUGH THIS. YOU GOTTA PRAY HER THROUGH THIS BECAUSE AS THEY JUST SAID, IT IS NOT GOING TO BE EASY. SHE GONNA BE MARRIED WITH YOU EVER. BUT YOU AIN'T GONNA EVEN KNOW WHY. I DON'T KNOW WHY. NOW THESE PEOPLE UP HERE AND A BUNCH OF THEM PEOPLE OUT THERE AND SHE GO, I'LL JUST TURN OVER TO HER DAD. DAD, OKAY? SHE SAID YOU HAD 50 YEARS, YOU AIN'T TAKING THEM BACK. BUT EACH OF YOU, I WANT YOU TO KNOW YOUR BEING HERE TODAY IS AN ENCOURAGEMENT TO HER, OKAY? SO WHEN IT GETS ROUGH, YOU KNOW, WHEN IT GETS NOT TOO, NOT JOVIAL, YOU STILL WANT TO BE THAT ENCOURAGEMENT TO YEAH. AMEN. OKAY. NOW BEFORE I WILL MOVE ON, CHARLOTTE, MAYBE YOU MIGHT WANT DO THIS, BUT I DIDN'T WRITE ANYTHING DOWN, SO I'M GONNA JUST DO IT. WE HAVE SOME ELECTED OFFICIALS. WE ARE IN THE ROOM TODAY TO SUPPORT YOU. SO ALL OF OUR STATE, WE HAVE STATE REPRESENTATIVE OR WE HAVE THE COUNTY SHERIFF. SO IF ANYBODY GOT A GUN, YOU GOING SHOOT OR SOMETHING. WE HAVE, UH, JUDGES, UH, THEY MIGHT, MAYBE THEY YEAH, Y'ALL STAND ALL OKAY, WE GOT ANOTHER JURY IN THE BACK THERE. YOU NOT JAIL ANYMORE. YOU QUIT. YOU QUIT. YEAH. I'M TRYING TO TEACH YOU NOTHING. MY POWER. I'M TRYING TO TEACH YOU HOW TO BE A POLITICIAN. AND, AND, AND COUNCILOR BASEY YOU SAY UP YOU HIM, YOUNGSTERS, MAN, THEY JUST AIN'T TALKING TO ME. TALKING TO Y'ALL TOO. YEAH, I KNOW. WHERE DID THE STAND UP? YOU ALSO HAVE COMMISSIONER OVER HERE AND JUDGE OVER HERE. YEAH. YEAH, I KNOW THAT THEY STOOD UP. THEY STOOD THEY YEAH, BUT SEE THEY ALL, THEY KNOW WHAT TO DO. MAYOR. NEED WHAT? OKAY, NOW COUNCILMAN, COUNCILMAN NEED FOR LAW [00:30:01] FOR NEEDLING. THEY'RE TELLING ME FOR NEEDLING. WELL, OH, OH, SO YOU ARE, YOU, ARE YOU, YOU OLD, THAT'S RANDY. YOU DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. OKAY? BUT THIS IS WHAT WE HAVE. WE HAVE ELECTED OFFICIALS HERE. THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING. WHO ARE HERE TODAY AND BEFORE I DO THIS AND I CAN DO IT 'CAUSE I CAN, 'CAUSE I'M STILL THE MAYOR. YOU AIN'T GOT THERE YET. . WE HAD A FORMER MAYOR BEAUMONT, WHO'S MY FRIEND. YES, MY FRIEND STAN. SHE AND I, SHE AND I TRAVELED SEVEN, JUST A MINUTE. STAND BACK UP, MAYOR, PLEASE. SHE AND I TRAVELED AROUND THE COUNTRY TOGETHER AND SHE BECAME MY PERSONAL PERSON TO PUSH ME IN A WHEELCHAIR BECAUSE WE COULD ALL GET FIRST CLASS SEATS ON A PLANE. , OKAY? YEAH. HE HAS A PICTURE AND YOU KNOW, SO, UH, BUT I, I WANT TO GIVE YOU THAT RECOGNITION IN PORT ARTHUR. AND SHE IS THIS, THESE ARE SOME THINGS, YOU KNOW, THESE ARE THE TYPE RELATIONSHIPS THAT YOU ALL DON'T GET A CHANCE TO SEE. AND THEN, YOU KNOW WHAT WOULD BE SO GOOD ABOUT IT? SHE'D BE LOOKING FOR ME. WHAT TIME YOU PLEASE AND WHAT FIGHT ARE YOU ON ? YEAH. AND THEN I HAD THEM DOING IT. THEY WERE LAUGHING, BUT THEN, YOU KNOW, THEY LEARNED IT, YOU KNOW, Y'ALL KNOW I, YOU KNOW, MY, I HAD TO GET WHAT THEY CALL THE TOTAL HIP REPLACEMENT AND ALL THE OTHER STUFF. SO I WASN'T LYING. I REALLY COULDN'T WALK ALL THAT FIGHT, YOU KNOW? BUT IT WORKED. BUT NOW I THINK, AND, AND HE JUST TOLD ME WHERE, WHERE, WHERE IS FORMER MAYOR PRINCE? SHE'S IN HERE. OKAY. DID YOU STAND UP? WELL, SHE'S TOO YOUNG. SHE PROBABLY DIDN'T KNOW, DIDN'T REMEMBER FORMER MAYOR PRINCE. ALRIGHT. AND YOU KNOW, SHE'S REAL TALL, SO I REALLY DIDN'T SEE HER, YOU KNOW, BUYING THOSE PEOPLE. SO THEY HAD TO TELL ME YOU WERE BACK THERE. NOW I CAN SEE, OKAY? AND NOW ANYONE ELSE THAT, THAT, THAT'S ELECTED OR APPOINTED SOMEBODY ELSE IS, I SEE SOMEBODY WAVING, BUT I CAN'T SEE WHO. COME ON MAN. YEAH, YOU CAN COME IN. OKAY? I, YOU MAN. YEAH, YOU, I HAD EYES SURGERY TOO. , THAT'S FORMER MAYOR FREEMAN BACK THERE AND YEP. FORMER COUNCILMAN CAROL JONES. IF YOU'VE EVER BEEN A FORMER LEADER IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, THIS STANDING WAY, WE, WE, WE, WE GOOD. SEE, I'M DOING ALL THIS. SO WHEN SHE GETS IN BED, SHE WON'T BE BURDENED WITH THAT, UH, CAP KATRINA FRANK. OKAY? NO, YOU, NO, YOU SEE, YOU, YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'VE GOT TO DO. SEE, IT'S BAD WHEN YOU DON'T WANT TO RECOGNIZE YOUR OWN. COME ON. AIN'T NONE OF THESE PEOPLE THREATENING ME , BECAUSE I COULD DISMISS THE MEETING AND YOU HAVE TO WAIT TILL NEXT WEEK. OKAY? LOOK, LOOK, NO, LOOK HERE, DOG. THIS, THIS IS WHAT IT IS. AND AS YOU SAID, YOU, HE GONNA SAY NO, NO. AND WE FINN TO ARGUE . YEAH, LAST TIME. LAST TIME. AND I'M GONNA JUST TELL Y'ALL WHAT HE TOLD ME YESTERDAY. NOW, BUT YOU KNOW HOW HE, HE, HE DON'T WANNA TALK IN FRONT OF SOMEBODY, BUT HE WANT TO TELL YOU SOMETHING PERSONAL BECAUSE HE DON'T WANT NOBODY TO KNOW THAT THEY, YOU KNOW, HE MUST LIKE HIM. WE GET THERE. HE SAY, THAT'S WHAT I'M GONNA MISS ABOUT YOU, MAN. YOU JUST ALWAYS HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY, MAKE IT, MAKE IT GOOD, AND THEN HE HURRY UP AND WALKED UP THE STEP. SO NOBODY WOULD EVEN KNOW HE TOLD ME THAT. I AM GONNA MISS TELLING IT TO YOU. OKAY? NOW I THINK I'VE DONE EVERYTHING CHARLOTTE. SO WHEN YOU COME, YOU JUST DO THIS AND Y'ALL, THEY GOT SOME, Y'ALL GOT SOME REFLECTIONS OF OUR PEOPLE ABSOLUTELY. WHERE YOU CITY HALL PARTY. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. SO, YOU KNOW, YOU COULD DO THAT AND THEN YOU ALL GO THROUGH AND, UH, BE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, TAKE PICTURES AND I MEAN, IT'S A FESTIVE DAY. SHE'S NOT COMING TO HANDLE ANY BUSINESS UNLESS YOU WANT TO. I'M GONE, BUT IT'S GONNA BE ON YOU. OKAY? SO WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO, SEE THE SECRETARY, I CAN DO THAT CANVAS. UH, YES SIR. WE'VE HAVE OUR [II.(1) P.O. No. 7343 – An Ordinance Canvassing The Returns And Declaring The Results Of The Runoff Election, Held On June 7, 2025, For The Purpose Of Electing A Mayor In The City Of Port Arthur, Texas In Accordance With The Texas Election Code] PROPOSED ORDINANCE CANVASSING THE RUNOFF. OKAY? AND THAT IS ITEM NUMBER TWO. AND IT, THIS ACTUALLY REQUIRES AN INDIVIDUAL ACTION. YES. AND IT IS PO NUMBER 73 43. IT'S AN ORDINANCE CANVASSING THE RETURNS AND DECLARING THE RESULTS OF THE RUNOFF ELECTION HELD ON JUNE 7TH, 2025 FOR THE PURPOSE OF ELECTING A MAYOR IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TEXAS [00:35:01] ELECTION CODE. COUNCILMAN KINLOCK, MAY I GET A MOTION? MAYOR, I MOVE THAT WE, UH, PASS PO NUMBER 73 43. MAY I GET A SECOND? COUNCILWOMAN BECKER? SECOND. IT'S BEEN MOVED. AND SECOND THAT WE WOULD APPROVE PO NUMBER 73 43 PRESENTED. WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS? YES SIR. GO RIGHT AHEAD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WANT TO ENCOURAGE EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM TO PLEASE CONTINUE TO SHOW UP DURING OUR NORMAL GENERAL SESSIONS. SOMETIMES THERE COULD BE 10 PEOPLE IN THE ROOM. TODAY IS A BEAUTIFUL SITE TO SEE THE ENGAGEMENT OF OUR COMMUNITY. SO I'M ASKING THAT YOU CONTINUE TO WANT TO BE ENGAGED AND YOU ARE MORE AND ALWAYS WELCOME TO COME TO OUR COUNCIL MEETINGS, WHICH ARE EVERY OTHER TUESDAY, ONE IN THE MORNING AT 9 31 IN THE EVENING, STARTING AT FIVE 30. SO IT GIVES EVERYONE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE. THERE'S NO EXCUSES. PLEASE COME. PLEASE SHOW UP AND LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON THIS? IF NOT, WE'RE READY TO VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSES? AYE. HAVE IT. SO IT IS NOW APPROVED AND READ AS I READ IT, ROBERT PO NUMBER 73 43 HAS NOW BECOME LAW. MAY YOU APPROACH, PLEASE, CITY SECRETARY WOULD YOUR APPROACH PLEASE? AMEN. OKAY, WE'LL GIVE YOUR OATH. FIRST. I, CHARLOTTE AND MOSES, I, CHARLOTTE AND MOSES DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM, DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE, THAT I'LL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF MAYOR, THE DUTIES IN THE OFFICE OF MAYOR OF THE STATE OF TEXAS. OF THE STATE OF TEXAS. AND WILL TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY AND WILL TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY, PRESERVE, PRESERVE, PROTECT, PROTECT AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION. AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES. AND LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES. AND OF THIS STATE. AND OF THIS STATE. SO HELP ME GOD. SO HELP ME GOD. CONGRATULATIONS. THIS IS YOUR STATEMENT. I, CHARLOTTE, MOSES, I, CHARLOTTE, MOSES, DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM THAT I HAVE NOT DIRECTLY, THAT I HAVE NOT DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY PAID, ARE INDIRECTLY PAID, OFFERED. OFFERED. PROMISE TO PAY? PROMISE TO PAY. CONTRIBUTED. CONTRIBUTED OR PROMISE TO CONTRIBUTE OR PROMISE TO CONTRIBUTE ANY MONEY OR THING OF VALUE, ANY MONEY OR THING OF VALUE OR PROMISE ANY PUBLIC OFFICE OR PROMISE ANY PUBLIC OFFICE OR EMPLOYMENT, FORGIVING OR WITHHOLDING OR EMPLOYMENT, FORGIVING OR WITHHOLDING A VOTE AT THE ELECTION? A VOTE AT THE ELECTION AT WHICH I WAS ELECTED, AT WHICH I WAS ELECTED. OR AS A REWARD OR AS A REWARD TO SECURE MY APPOINTMENT. TO SECURE MY APPOINTMENT. OR CONFIRMATION. OR CONFIRMATION, WHICHEVER THE CASE MAY BE, WHICHEVER THE CASE MAY BE. SO HELP ME GOD. SO HELP ME GOD, CONGRATULATIONS. OKAY. IT'S OFFICIAL. HELLO, BOSS . HAVE A SEAT. [00:40:05] OKAY. I, AT THIS TIME, DO WE HAVE THE PIONEER WOMEN? ARE YOU IN THE AUDIENCE AT THIS TIME? YES. AND IF YOU WOULD COME UP TO THE PODIUM FOR THE PRESENTATION. YOU, YOU WANT THE COUNCIL? YES. THEY WANT US TO GO DOWN. OKAY. THANK, I FORGOT TO COME UP HERE. OKAY. OH YEAH, YEAH, RIGHT. GOOD. RIGHT. Y'ALL CHANGING, TAKE THAT. YOU WANT US TO TURN A LITTLE BIT? YEAH, TURN A LITTLE BIT. YOU PUT THEM ON THE TABLE. GOOD. GOOD. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. MORNING. I'M GEORGE JEAN GILBERT, COMMISSIONER FOR THE PORT OF BEAUMONT, AND I'M ALSO THE FOUNDER OF PIONEERING WOMEN, WHICH CHARLOTTE SERVE AT LEAST 20 YEARS. WE'VE ENJOYED HER SO MUCH. SHE IS THE LOVE OF OUR HEARTS, AND WE HAD TO BE PRESENT FOR THIS SPECIAL OCCASION AND FOR HER LOVELY HUSBAND, REVEREND MOSES CHARLOTTE, CONGRATULATIONS. YOU KNOW, WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH AND WE ARE HERE TO CELEBRATE YOU AND WE HAVE SOME FLOWERS FOR YOU. THANK YOU. THANKS TO LORAN FOR HEADING ALL OF THAT AND GETTING THAT IN ORDER FOR TODAY. THANK Y'ALL. OH YEAH. CAN I GET A PICTURE WITH THE PIONEER WOMAN? PIONEER WOMAN? COULD YOU, SHE WANTS TO, THE MAYOR WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A PHOTO. CAN WE MOVE THIS PODIUM TO THE SIDE? YEAH. OKAY. UH, LADIES, Y'ALL COME OVER THIS WAY SO WE CAN HAVE THE Y'ALL COME OVER THIS WAY. YEAH. THANK, BEAUTIFUL. [00:45:09] MAY WE PLEASE, MAY WE PLEASE HAVE ALL OF THE FORMER MAYORS TO COME UP FRONT. ALL OF THE FORMER MAYORS OF THE CITY, OF PORT ARTHUR COME UP FRONT. THE, WHAT? WE HAD THAT DISCUSSION, YOU KNOW, AT LEAST FIVE MONTHS OF PRAYER. HOW YOU DOING? I'M SORRY TO STAND OVER. THAT'S OKAY. THEY ALL BLACK. Y'ALL THUR. HE DON'T GET TO WHAT IN THE ARE YOU BY NOW? I'M GOOD, THANK YOU. EXCUSE ME. GET A, JUST GONNA, YEAH. JUST TO SAY THANK YOU. UM, RIGHT. UM, BEFORE WE ADJOURN, UM, OUR MEETING, I, I COULD GET USED TO THIS . I COULD GET USED TO THIS, BUT LISTEN, UM, I, I HAVE A, I KNOW WE'RE GONNA ADJOURN OUR MEETING. I, I, BUT I CAN'T ADJOURN WITHOUT SAYING SOMETHING. UM, TO SO MANY PEOPLE THAT MADE THIS HAPPEN. I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DISMISSED OR ADJOURNED THIS MEETING AND DIDN'T HAVE A FEW WORDS. I HAD TO WRITE IT, UH, CAMPAIGN MANAGER SO I WOULDN'T MISS ANYTHING. SHE'S ALWAYS TELLING ME YOU DON'T NEED ANY PAPER. BUT, UH, TODAY I'M USING MY PAPER ON JUNE 7TH, WE MADE HISTORY TOGETHER. I'M DEEPLY HONORED AND INCREDIBLY HUMBLED TO SIT HERE BEFORE YOU AS THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR. THIS VICTORY IS NOT MINE. [00:50:01] IT BELONGS TO EVERY CAMPAIGN VOLUNTEER WHO WALKED, KNOCKED ON DOORS, WHO MADE PHONE CALLS TO EVERY NEIGHBOR WHO BELIEVED IN THE PROMISE OF A BETTER TOMORROW. AND EVERY VOTER WHO CAMPAIGNED AND THEY PLACED THEIR TRUST IN ME TO MY CHILDREN WHO CAMPAIGNED TIRELESSLY WITHOUT RESERVATION. AND TO MY AMAZING HUSBAND WHO BELIEVED I COULD BEFORE I EVEN BELIEVED I COULD. THANK YOU. YES. HALLELUJAH. THIS CAMPAIGN WAS NEVER ABOUT ONE PERSON. IT WAS ABOUT ALL OF US, OUR FAMILIES, OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, OUR FUTURE. IT WAS ABOUT LISTENING TO ONE ANOTHER. I LISTENED TO SO MANY, I HEARD YOU AT THE POLLS. THOSE THAT STOPPED AND BELIEVED THAT I COULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE. IT WAS ABOUT LISTENING AND LIFTING UP EACH OTHER, WORKING SIDE BY SIDE TO BUILD A CITY THAT EVERYONE WHO LIVES HERE WILL HAVE A FAIR SHOT AND NOBODY'S LEFT BEHIND. I WANNA THANK MY OPPONENT FOR HIS COMMITMENT AND HIS PUBLIC SERVICE. WE MAY NOT HAVE AGREED ON EVERYTHING, BUT WE'LL WORK TOGETHER FOR THE BETTERMENT OF PORT ARTHUR. I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING TOGETHER WHERE WE CAN FIND COMMON GROUND TO THE YOUNG PEOPLE. I KNOW THIS, YOUR VOICE MATTERS, YOUR FUTURE MATTERS. THIS CAMPAIGN WAS FUELED BY YOUR ENERGY AND IT WAS FUELED BY YOUR IDEAS AND YOUR BELIEF THAT CHANGE IN PORT ARTHUR IS POSSIBLE. TODAY, THE REAL WORK BEGINS. WE FACE BIG CHALLENGES FROM CLEARING AND CLEANING OUR COMMUNITIES, REPAIRING STREETS AND INFRASTRUCTURE, ADDRESSING HOUSING AND AFFORDABILITY, PUBLIC SAFETY TO PARKS AND RECREATION UPGRADES, AND TO OUR YOUTH AND RETAINING OUR YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS IN OUR CITY. THE WORK BEGINS TODAY AND I BELIEVE OUR COMMUNITY IS READY TO MAKE IT HAPPEN. AMEN. AND I KNOW THAT IF WE STAND UNITED, THERE IS NOTHING WE CANNOT ACCOMPLISH. LET'S GET IT DONE. LET'S GET IT DONE. LET'S GET IT DONE. THANK YOU TO EVERYONE HERE AGAIN, AND THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUES, CITY MANAGER, CITY ATTORNEY, CITY SECRETARY, THE STAFF OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR. I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU. OCTOBER THE 26TH, 1988, I BEGAN ON THE FIRST FLOOR OF CITY HALL AS AN ADMINISTRATIVE CLERK TOO. GOD HAS BROUGHT ME A MIGHTY LONG WAY FROM THE BOTTOM TO THE TOP. NOBODY BUT GOD COULD HAVE DONE ANYTHING LIKE THIS. SO I GIVE ALL GLORY TO GOD AND I GIVE ALL HONOR TO EVERYONE IN HERE WHO VOTED AND DID NOT VOTE. I'M STILL YOUR MAYOR AND I LOVE THIS CITY AND I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT GOD DOES. THANK YOU SO MUCH. YEAH. NOW YOU KNOW, I DON'T REMEMBER THAT ETTE. WHAT'D YOU TELL ME? . OKAY, WE'RE GOOD. OKAY. HE'S TELLING ME WHAT TO DO WITH TODAY, . SO WE'RE GONNA HAVE OUR RECEPTION AGAIN. THANK YOU ALL SO VERY MUCH. AND THEN I'M GOING TO, UH, I GUESS CALL FOR THE MEETING TO BE ADJOURN ADJOINED AT THIS TIME. UM, COUNSELORS, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY BEFORE WE DISMISS. I KNOW YOU SAID A LOT, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF, UH, YOU GUYS HAVE ANYTHING ELSE, BUT WE ARE READY TO GO. MOVE [00:55:01] TO ADJOIN. THANK YOU. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, AJO. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.